travel | photography | musings
Today is World Elephant day! World Elephant Day, celebrated annually on August 12 is an international awareness campaign that aims to raise awareness about the threats facing elephants including habitat loss, poaching, and human-elephant conflict. It works to ensure the survival of both African and Asian elephant species. World Elephant Day was first launched in … Continue reading The Kozhikamuthi Elephant Camp – Topslip
Sarees form an integral part of a lady’s wardrobe, especially a South Indian. A saree is usually six metres (sometimes even nine metres) of unstitched fabric specially woven and draped in styles typical to the region. They could be in pure cotton, or silk or in blends of cotton and silk too apart from synthetic … Continue reading Handloom – The desi weave
Hinduism is full of beautiful stories. Some may claim that they are but stories, maybe fiction or part fiction. For the sceptics, they may just be stories but for believers they are like beacons of light, guiding them in their day to day lives. A small incident that may have happened eons ago may be … Continue reading The story of Ponnuthu Amman
Happy 218th Coimbatore Day! Long, long ago in the days of yore, there was a forest in what we see today as Coimbatore. The region was under the rule of the Irulas, headed by the chieftain Kovan. The area was said to have been struck by famine and the suffering of the people was unbearable. … Continue reading Coimbatore – A potpourri of emotions!
"In order to see birds, it is necessary to become a part of the silence", said Robert Lynd. And so we drove to Sálim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History, also known as SACON to experience it ourselves! After checking into the guest house inside the campus, we were taken on an interesting walk … Continue reading SACON – The legacy of Sálim Ali
As I entered the gates of the beautiful Darza Luxury Resorts on the outskirts of Coimbatore, and laid eyes on the stunning reception area, I was mesmerised. The beautiful structure made of glass and metal reminded me of the Pyramid in front of The Louvre in Paris. The fountains in the foreground, with the statue … Continue reading Darza- A Slice of Heaven
Imagine getting into a time machine and travelling back in time! A time when things were simple, beautiful, peaceful and serene! That was the feeling I got when I checked into the resort ‘My Village’. Sunrise at the the Theppakulam at My Village Spread over 25 acres of naturally green and beautiful plantations in the … Continue reading A journey through time
I am writing this story as the festival of Onam is being celebrated by all with great happiness and fervor.
Onam is celebrated as the harvest festival in the state of Kerala in India. But there are various legends from mythology attached to it. I share with you one that I heard from my thatha (grandfather) as a child.
The story is about a demon, Mahabali, the grandson of Prahlada. Like Prahlada, he was also very good, pious and kind. He lead his people, the asuras out of their abode, the Patal lok or the netherworlds and won wars and annexed both earth and the heavens. Being a just ruler, he took care of his subjects who were very happy with him and his kingdoms prospered.
The devas or the celestial beings under Lord Indra were very unhappy at having lost their kingdom to the demon or asura Mahabali. So…
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There are a number of stories in our texts about how Shiva killed the demon called Gajasura. Gaja means elephant and asura means demon.
Let me tell you a few of them!
Once upon a time there was a demon called Gajasura. Gajasura was a demon with the body of an elephant. Unlike the stereotypical asuras or demons, Gajasura was a good demon. (Of course there are demons who were born to demons but were good like Prahlada, son of Hiranyakashipu and Bali Chakravarthi who offered his head to Vamana to place his foot.) He prayed to lord Shiva who was so pleased with his penance that he offered him a boon. Gajasura requested Shiva to live in his stomach. Shiva, Bholenath that he is could not go back on his words. So he shrunk himself and entered the body of Gajasura.
Devi Parvathi worried at not seeing Shiva for…
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Let me tell you a story from the Ramayana today.
Long long ago, Ravana had abducted Sita and carried her away to his kingdom of Lanka. When Lord Rama was preparing to go to Lanka to bring Devi Sita back, he found the mighty ocean separating him from Lanka.
Rama offered his prayers to Lord Varuna, the God of Sea, for three continuous days seeking his support to cross to the other side of the ocean. On the fourth day, Rama became angry at not receiving any response from Lord Varuna. He then decided to shoot his Brahmastra into the sea. Varuna appeared before Rama and requested him not to release the lethal weapon. Varuna assured Lord Rama that he would facilitate the construction of a bridge across the sea.
Varuna also informed Shri Rama about the curse on the two warriors in Sugriva’s army, Nala and Nila. He said…
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uma's ruminations 